Shower enclosure



Oct. 14, 1958 o. DANSEREAU 2,856,040

SHOWER ENCLOSURE Filed Feb. 10, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l 7 2/ 2 INVENTOR.

Lionel O. Dan5c=rcau Unite.

Patent Lionel 0. Dansereau, New York, N. Y., assignor to Long IslandShower Door Company, Inc., Richmond Hill, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork This invention relates to shower enclosures for bath tubes orshower compartments and is directed more particularly to such enclosuresof the type having sliding doors or panels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shower enclosureof the character described in which the sliding door panels aresuspended by means of captive rollers from a pair of concealed tracksformed in an overhead beam of novel construction, said tracks being soconstructed and arranged as to prevent accidental displacement of therollers and consequent falling out of the door panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for effectivelysealing the shower enclosure along the side walls and bottom thereof,said sealing means including a separate pair of channel members soconstructed and arranged as to permit relative adjustable movementtherebetween to compensate for unevenness or misalignment of the wallsand floor or tub of the shower enclosure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel rollersuspension for the sliding door panels by means of which center linehanging of the door panels in overlapping relationship from respectivetracks is facilitated and water leakage between the adjacent faces ofthe door panels is eliminated.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision ofcombined track and drainage means on the bottom of the shower enclosureto guide the lower ends of the door panels.

The above and other objects of the invention together with theadvantages derived therefrom will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example some of thepreferred embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character have beenused to designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a shower enclosure embodying theinvention with certain parts broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper corner of one of thedoor panels with certain parts broken away and in section.

Fig. 4A is an exploded view of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower corner of one of thedoor panels with certain parts broken away and in section.

Fig. 5A is an exploded view of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 7 showing amodified form of overhead beam.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 6.

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Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 9 showing a modifiedform of track-forming member.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8showing a modified form of adjusting means for the bottom track-formingmember.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section through a modified form ofadjusting means for the vertical side channels, and

Fig. 11 is a perspective detail of one of the angles employed to securethe channels in place after adjustment.

In the drawings, referring more particularly to Fig. 1, referencenumeral 10 designates a conventional bath tub disposed between two endwalls 11 of a bath room with with a third wall 12 of the room providingone of the side walls of the compartment in which the tub forms thereceptacle for the shower. The open side of the compartment is adaptedto be closed by an enclosure embodying the present invention. In theform illustrated, the shower enclosure comprises a pair of sliding doorpanels 14 suspended from an overhead supporting beam 16 which extendshorizontally across the open side of the compartment from one to theother of the two end walls 11. The beam 16 is supported at its oppositeends by a pair of vertical channel members 17 mounted on the rim orupper edge of the tub 10.

As best seen from Fig. 2, each channel member 17 is formed with a web 18adapted to be cemented or otherwise suitably secured to a respective endwall 11 and with a pair of legs 19 extending outwardly from said wall.The legs-19 are spaced from one another a predetermined distance toreceive and accommodate therebetween in telescoping engagement thespaced legs 20 of a second or inner channel member 21 having a web 22forming the jamb against which a respective door panel 14 is adapted toabut when in closed position.

It is not uncommon to find that the end walls 11 to which the channels17 are cemented or otherwise secured are not truly vertical.Consequently, in order to compensate for such misalignment andirregularities in the walls 11 and enable the jamb-forming web 22 ofeach inner channel 21 to be properly aligned for sealing engagement withthe adjacent edge of a respective door panel 14, each channel 17 isprovided with adjustable spacing means indicated generally by referencenumerals 23 in Fig. 1.

Each spacing means 23 comprises a sleeve 24 (Fig. 2) extendingtransversely through the web 18 in a suitable opening provided therein.Each sleeve 24 is rigidly secured in place in the channel 17 and isinternally threaded to receive one end of a threaded pin 25. Theopposite end or head 26 of the pin 25 is enlarged as shown to provide anabutment for the web 22 of the inner channel 21. In order to accommodatea screwdriver or other tool employed to turn the pin 25 relative to thesleeve 24, a transverse slot 27 is provided in the head 26. Thus, bysimply screwing or unscrewing each set of pins 25 relative to thesleeves 24, proper adjustment of the inner channels 21 with respect tothe channels 17 may be readily accomplished to provide verticalalignment of said inner channels.

The head 26 of each pin 25 is also centrally drilled and tapped toreceive a set screw 28 employed to lock the inner channel 21 in placeafter adjustment of thepins to obtain the desired alignment of thejamb-formmember 30 (Fig. 3) having a web 31 and a pair of spacedupwardly extending legs 32. Along each of its longitudinal edges, thechannel member 30 is perferably formed with a relatively short flange 33extending downwardly as sh wn to provide a shallow recess 34 between theweb 31 and the adjacent surface of the tub 10 for the reception of asuitable caulking compound employed to seal the channel to the tub. Theflanges 33 also extend outwardly to form shoulders on which the legs 20of the inner channels 21 are adapted to be mounted adjacent thelongitudinal extremities of the bottom channel 39.

In order to provide a finished joint at each of the bottom corners ofthe enclosure and effectively seal the same against water leakage, thebottom channel 30 terminates at each of its longitudinal extremities inthe space provided between the legs 19 of the respective Side wallchannels 17.

The web 31 of the bottom channel 30 is so constructed as to provide aninclined upper surface sloping downwardly toward the leg 32 adapted tobe disposed adjacent the interior of the bath tub 10 and a number ofopenings 34 are drilled transversely through said leg adjacent the lowerend thereof to form drain holes opening into the interior of the tub.Thus, any water splashing from the shower and falling into the bottomchannel 39 will run oif into the bath tub 10.

35 designates a bottom track-forming member comprising a channel ofsubstantially the same length as the bottom channel 30 above describedand having a pair of legs 36 spaced from one another and adapted toextend downwardly into the bottom channel 30 in telescoping engagementwith the upwardly extending legs 32. The web 37 of the bottom trackmember 35 is formed to provide a pair of transversely spacedlongitudinally extending grooves or recesses 38 which extend downwardlyinto the interior of the bottom channel 30 and form guides or tracks forthe purpose hereinafter set forth.

The bottom of each groove 38 is preferably provided with a number ofdrilled openings 39 forming drain holes opening into the interior of thechannel 30. Adjacent the recesses 38, the web 37 is preferably formedwith inclined inner and outer portions 40 and 41, respectively, slopingdownwardly from the outer longitudinal edge toward the innerlongitudinal edge of the track-forming member 35 to facilitate drainage.

In order to compensate for any sagging or other deviation from thehorizontal line of the tub 10 or of the floor upon which the tub ismounted, suitable adjusting means such as the one shown in Fig. 3 andindicated generally by reference numeral 43 may be employed. Theadjusting means 43 is similar to the spacing means 23 heretoforedescribed in connection with the vertical side wall channels 17 and 21and reference may be had thereto for a detailed description thereof, itbeing understood that two or more such adjusting means 43 are employedspaced from one another longitudinally of the trackforming channel 35and disposed between the guideforming recesses 38.

Each door 14 comprises a transparent or translucent glass panel 44retained in a frame composed of sections of novel construction includinga top section 45, a bottom section 46 and a pair of side sections 47.Each section of the frame is formed with a glass retaining channel orgroove 48 (Figs. 4A and A) of suitable dimension to receive andaccommodate the glass panel 44 and a gasket 49 employed to seal the sameas clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In each of the top and bottom frame sections 45 and 46, the glassretaining grove 48 terminates at its inner end in a keyhole slot 50 and51, respectively. In each of the side frame sections 47, a pair ofopposed inwardly extending rails 52 are provided intermediate the endsof the groove 48 forming abutments for the sealing gasket 49 and glasspanel 44 and providing an inner chamber 53 for a corner key ormiter-retaining screw 54 employed at each corner of the frame to securethe frame sections together as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Thescrews 54 are preferably self tapping and at each of the top and bottomcorners said screws are adapted to cooperate with the rounded portionsof the keyhole slots 50 and 51, respectively.

The bottom frame section 46 terminates at its lower end in a relativelythin flange or lip 56 adapted to extend into a respective recess 38 inthe track-forming channel 35. On each side thereof, the lip 56 isprovided with cushioning means 57 of suitable material such asresinimpregnated fabric or the like to avoid metal to metal contactbetween the parts and silence the doors 14 in their sliding movement toopen and closed positions.

Extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof, the top frame section45 of each door panel is provided longitudinally thereof with a slot 60opening into an enlarged socket-forming chamber 61 to receive the balland tongue portions 62 of roller mounting brackets 63 employed to hangeach door panel 14 from the overhead beam 16. The ball and tongueportions 62 of the brackets 63 are adapted to be inserted into thesockebforming chamber 61 and slot 60 in the top frame section 45 fromthe ends of the latter and shifted longitudinally to the desiredrelative positions for proper support of each door panel.

Each bracket 63 has a vertical leg portion 64 terminating at its lowerend in a relatively short laterally extending leg portion 65 from theunderside of which the ball and tongue portion 62 depends as clearlyshown in Fig. 3. Adjacent its upper end, the vertical leg portion 64 ofeach bracket 63 carries a relatively short transverse shaft 66 on whicha roller 67 is rotatably mounted to overlie the lateral leg portion 65and in substantially vertical alignment with the ball and tongue portion62. Each roller 67 is preferably composed of rubber or other suitablenon-metallic material such as nylon so as to provide a noiseless rollingsupport for the door panels 14.

Intermediate the socket-forming chamber 61 and the key slot 50, the topframe section 45 is preferably reduced as at 68 to facilitate thedrilling of angularly disposed tapped openings 69 communicating with thesocket-founing chamber for the reception of set screws employed to lockthe ball and tongue portions 62 of the roller mounting brackets 63 inplace.

The overhead beam 16 from which the door panels 14 are to be hungcomprises a hollow member provided ccntrally thereof with alongitudinally extending vertical wall or web 70 which depends from theupper portion thereof. Adjacent its lower end, the web 70 is provided onopposite sides thereof with a pair of outwardly extending ears offlanges 71, the upper face of each of which is provided with alongitudinally extending recess 72 forming a track on each side of theweb 70 for the rollers 67. Intermediate its upper and lower ends, theweb 70 is provided on each side thereof with a longitudinally extendingflange 73 forming a hood overlying a respective trackforming recess 72.Each flange 73 is spaced from the respective recess 72 a predetermineddistance such as to permit freedom of movement of the rollers 67longitudinally along the tracks but prevent lateral movement of saidrollers outwardly with respect to said track. Thus, once the rollers 67are installed in place in the respective track, from the longitudinalextremities of the latter prior to assembly, they are held captivebetween the track-forming flanges 71 and the overlying flanges 73.

The brackets 63 associated with a respective door panel 14 areoppositely disposed with respect to the brackets associated with theother door panel as shown in Fig. 3, whereby the door panels are centerline hung from the respective track-forming recesses 72 and the spacingbetween said door panels reduced to a minimum.

In order to conceal the roller mounting brackets 63, the overhead beam16 is formed with side walls 76 outwardly spaced from the central web 70and extending downwardly a predetermined distance beyond the lower edgeof the track-forming flanges 71. The side walls 76 may be of anysuitable symmetrical design with the lower ends thereof adapted to restupon the flanges 19 of the vertical side wall channels 18. Adjacent thelower ends thereof, the walls 76 are provided on the inner faces thereofwith a pair of inwardly extending rails 77. The rails 77 extendlongitudinally of the walls 76 and form abutments for the upper ends ofthe flanges 20 of the inner channels 21 as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive, a modification of the inventionis shown in which the web 18a of each vertical side channel 17a isprovided intermediate its ends with an arcuate portion 80 forming afulcrum for the web 22a of a respective inner channel 21a and permitadjustable rocking movement of said last named channel 21a relative tosaid first named channel 170 to compensate for irregularities ordeviation from the vertical in the respective end walls of the bathroom. Similarly, the web 31a of the bottom channel 30a is likewiseprovided intermediate its ends with an arcuate portion 81 forming afulcrum for the track-forming member 35a and permit the latter to berocked with respect to the bottom channel to compensate forirregularities or deviations from the horizontal in the floor or tub ofthe bath room.

Each inner channel 21a is operatively connected at its upper and lowerends to the overhead beam 16a and to the bottom track-forming member35a, respectively, by means of a pair of angle irons 82. The legs ofeach angle iron 82 are provided adjacent their free ends with threadedopenings 83 to receive a pair of set screws 84 employed to lock theparts together after adjustment. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, each angleiron 82 has one of its legs reduced as at 85 for the purpose hereinafterset forth.

Each angle iron 82 employed to connect the channels 21a to the overheadbeam 16a has one of its legs disposed along the back or outer face ofthe web 22a and its other or horizontal leg extending longitudinallyinwardly from a respective end of said overhead beam. Similarly, eachangle iron 82 employed to connect the channels 21a to the bottomtrack-forming member 35a has one of its legs disposed along the back orouter face of the web 22a and its other or horizontal leg extendinglongitudinally inwardly from a respective end of the bottomtrack-forming member.

At each end thereof, the web 22a of each channel 21a is slottedlongitudinally inwardly as at 86 for a predetermined portion of itslength to receive the shank of a respective set screw 84 and permit thelatter to slide freely therein for purposes of adjustment of therespective angle irons 82 longitudinally with respect to each channel21a.

In order to accommodate the horizontal leg of each angle iron 82employed to connect the channels 21a to the overhead beam 16a, theunderside of the central web 70a of the overhead beam 16a, the undersideof the central web 70a of the overhead beam is provided with alongitudinally extending groove or channel 87 formed by a pair ofdownwardly and inwardly extending flanges 88. The inwardly extendingportions of the flanges 88 terminate at their free ends in spacedrelationship to one another to form therebetween a longitudinallyextending slot 89 to receive the shank of a respective set screw 84 andpermit the latter to be freely slidable therein for purposes ofadjustment of the respective angle irons 82 longitudinally of theoverhead beam 16a.

Similarly, the horizontal legof each angle iron 82 employed to connectthe channels 21a to the bottom trackforming member 35a is accommodatedin a longitudinally extending groove or channel 98 formed by a pairupwardly and inwardly extending flanges 91 provided on the centralportion of the web 37a. The inwardly extending portions of the flanges91 terminate at their free ends in spaced relationship to one another toform therebetween a longitudinally extending slot 92 to receive theshank of a respective set screw 84 and permit the latter to be freelyslidable therein for purposes of adjustment of the respective angleirons longitudinally of the bottom track-forming member 35a. Thus,during assembly of the construction shown in Figs. 6 to 11, anydeviation from the vertical found to be present in the inner channels21a can easily be adjusted by simply rocking said channels on theirrespective fulcrums 80. Similarly, any deviation from the horizontalfound to *be present in the botom track-forming member 35a can beadjusted by rocking the latter on its fulcrum 81. Following adjustmentof the inner channels 2la-and of the bottom track-forming member 35a,the respective angle irons 82 can be locked in position by tighteningthe set screws 84.

It is to be understood that during adjustment or, if desired, duringassembly, the reduced portion 85 provided in one of the legs of eachangle iron 82 employed to lock the channels 21a to the overhead beam 16awill be accommodated in the slot 89 on the underside of the web 70awhile the corresponding reduced portion 85 provided in each angle iron82 employed to lock the channels 21a to the bottom track-forming member35a will be accommodated in the slot 86 in the lower end of a respectivechannel.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a shower enclosure of novelconstruction in which the sliding door panels are center-line hung inoverlapping relationship for movement to open and closed positions andin which means are provided for compensating for any unevenness ormisalignment of the side walls and floor of the enclosure, wherebyproper sealing engagement between the two door panels and between theindividual panels and their respective door jambs will 'be assured.

It will also be observed that I have provided a shower enclosure formedof novel parts which may be assembled in place quite readily withoutrequiring special tools or special skill and which will permitreplacement of the glass panels 44 whenever required without having todismantle the other parts of the enclosure, it being understood thateach door panel may be removed by sliding the roller mounting brackets63 longitudinally to disengage the respective ball portion 62 from thesocket forming chamber 61 in the respective top frame section 45.

Although I have shown and described my invention in connection with arecessed bath tub, it is to be understood that the same is not intendedto be so limited as my invention may be applicable with equal effect tostall showers or other types of shower enclosures.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction and advantagesof my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the artwithout further description, it being borne in mind that numerouschanges may be made in the details disclosed without departure from thescope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A shower enclosure for an opening formed between two end wallscomprising, in combination, a pair of upright members for abuttingengagement with said end walls, respectively, and each having means constructed and arranged to provide a fulcrum, means including a secondpair of upright members forming door jambs, each of said doorjamb-forming member cooperating with a respective fulcrum for rockingmovement such as to permit vertical alignment of said secondnamedupright members independent of said first-named upright members, anoverhead beam extending across said opening and supported adjacent itslongitudinal extremities by said upright members, said overhead beamhaving means constructed and arranged to provide a pair oflongitudinally extending tracks across said opening, a pair of slidingdoors suspended from said overhead beam and having rollers cooperatingwith said tracks for movement across said opening, a channel memberextending longitudinally across the bottom of said opening between saidupright members and having means permitting drainage of water therefromtoward the interior of said opening, said channel member having meansconstructed and arranged to form a fulcrum intermediate its ends, meanson said channel member constructed and arranged to form a pair oflongitudinally extending guides across the bottom of said opening forthe bottom of said doors, respectively, said guide-forming meanscooperating with 'said last named fulcrum for rocking movement such asto permit horizontal alignment of said guide-forming means independentof said bottom channel member.

2. A shower enclosure for an opening formed between two end Wallscomprising, in combination, a pair of upright members for abuttingengagement with said end walls, respectively, and each having meansconstructed and arranged to provide a fulcrum, means including a secondpair of upright members forming door jambs, each of said doorjamb-forming member cooperating with a respective fulcrum for rockingmovement such as to permit vertical alignment of said second-namedupright members independent of said first-named upright members, anoverhead beam extending across said opening and supported adjacent itslongitudinal extremities by said upright members, said overhead beamhaving means constructed and arranged to provide a pair oflongitudinally extending tracks across said opening, a pair of slidingdoors suspended from said overhead beam and having rollers cooperatingwith said tracks for movement across said opening, a channel memberextending longitudinally across the bottom of said opening between saidupright members and having means permitting drainage of water therefromtoward the interior of said opening, said channel member having meansconstructed and arranged to form a fulcrum intermediate its ends, meanson said channel member constructed and arranged to form a pair oflongitudinally extending guides across the bottom of said opening forthe bottom of said doors, respectively, said guide-forming meanscooperating with said last named fulcrum for rocking movement such as topermit horizontal alignment of said guide-forming means independent ofsaid bottom channel member, and means operatively connecting saidguide-forming means to said door jamb-forming means.

3. A shower enclosure for an opening formed between two end wallscomprising, in combination, a pair of upright members for abuttingengagement with said end walls, respectively, and each having meansconstructed and arranged to provide a fulcrum, means including a secondpair of upright members forming door jambs, each of said doorjamb-forming members cooperating with a respective fulcrum for rockingmovement such as to permit vertical alignment of said second-namedupright members independent of said first-named upright members, anoverhead beam extending across said opening and supported adjacent itslongitudinal extremities by said upright members, said overhead beamhaving means constructed and arranged to provide a pair oflongitudinally extending tracks across said opening, a pair of slidingdoors suspended from said overhead beam and having rollers cooperatingwith said tracks for movement across said opening, a channel memberextending longitudinally across the bottom of said opening between saidupright members and having means permitting drainage of water therefromtoward the interior of said opening, said channel member having meansconstructed and arranged to form a fulcrum intermediate its ends, meanson said channel member constructed and arranged to form a pair oflongitudinally extending guides across the bottom of said opening forthe bottom of said doors, respectively, said guide-forming meanscooperating with said last named fulcrum for rocking movement such as topermit horizontal alignment of said guide-forming means independent ofsaid bottom channel member, means operatively connecting saidguide-forming means to said door jamb-forming means, and separate meansoperatively connecting said door jamb-forming means to said overheadbeam.

47 A shower enclosure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of saidfirst-named pair of upright members comprises a channel member, saidchannel members being oppositely disposed with respect to one anotherwith the flanges thereof extending outwardly from the respective endwalls.

5. A shower enclosure as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of saidsecond-named pair of upright members comprises a channel member disposedbetween the flanges of a respective first-named channel member, saidsecondnamed channels being oppositely disposed with respect to oneanother with the flanges thereof extending outwardly from thefirst-named channels respectively.

6. A shower enclosure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of saidfirst-named pair of upright members comprises a channel member having aweb for abutting engagement with a respective end wall and a pair offianges extending outwardly therefrom and wherein the fulcrum isprovided by an arcuate portion formed in the web of each channel memberintermediate its ends.

7. A shower enclosure as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of saidsecond-named pair of upright members comprises a channel member disposedbetween the flanges of a respective first-named channel member.

8. in a shower enclosure for an opening formed between two end walls,the combination of a pair of upright members for abutting engagementwith said end walls, respectively, and each having means constructed andarranged to provide a fulcrum, means including a second pair of uprightmembers forming door jambs, each of said door jamb-forming memberscooperating with a respective fulcrum for rocking movement such as topermit vertical alignment of said second-named upright membersindependent of said first-named upright members, an overhead beamextending across said opening and supported adjacent its longitudinalextremities by said upright members, said overhead beam having a centraldownwardly extending web provided on each side thereof with a laterallyextending flange forming a pair of longitudinally extending tracksacross said opening, means including a pair of doors adapted to besuspended from said beam for sliding movement across said opening, eachof said doors having a top frame section formed to provide alongitudinally extending socket, and means including a pair of bracketmembers operatively connecting each door to a respective track, eachbracket member having a cylindrical portion at its lower end forcooperative engagement with the socket of a respective top frame sectionand having roller means at its upper end for rolling engagement with arespective track.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,595,506 Backman May 6, 1952 2,761,533 Grossman Sept. 4, 1956 2,783,860Taubman Mar. 5, 1957

